Love always finds a way back to you.

  In the corner of Lina's eye, she saw movement. Taking a slow sip of her moscato mixed with gin, the only alcohol she could tolerate, she wondered who it could be. Paying the guest no mind, she peered over her shoulder to see Belle entertaining a man in uniform.

  Instantly, Lina's heart stopped. She turned her attention to her left. Breathless and surprised, she could only stare at him.

  Lina was once told by Mila that she oozed charm. Lina could have any man she wanted, but she was no temptress. She kept her attitude reclusive. Despite that, the colder she was to people, the more they wanted to get to know her.

  But when it came to Kaden, Lina felt like a giggling school girl. She could only blush from head to toe and stumble over her words.

  "Kaden?" Lina murmured, settling her glass filled with alcohol down on the counter. The cup sparkled like crystals underneath the dim lighting of the chandelier.

  Kaden pretended not to hear her. Instead, he ordered a whiskey, which seemed so foreign, Lina didn't understand what language he was speaking. The bartender certainly did, his brows shooting up.

  "You have great taste," the bartender complimented, turning his back to fetch the expensive and renowned drink.

  Only when the glass of whiskey was settled down did he turn to Lina. He gave a brief stare.

  Lina felt like an idiot. She pressed her lips together, realizing she seemed too desperate for him. Touching her chest, she felt the familiar ache. Despite her thoughts, she found her attention wandering to him. To her other side was a group of women flirting with another bartender who was handsome and charismatic, but Lina was disinterested.

  "You're drooling, dove."

  Lina's face turned bright crimson. She glowered at him and forced herself to look away, but couldn't. Now, he was holding her stare.

  His eyes were dark and intense, the obsidian black igniting a fire within her. The club was well-ventilated, but Lina felt hotter than lava in her dress. She let out a scoff at his words, crossed her legs and returned her attention to her drink.

  At the sensual motion, she could feel his expression turn dangerous. Her lips curled in amusement, knowing she had his full attention now.

  With a slow drag, Lina took a sip of her alcohol. Her head was growing fuzzy by the content, for she had never been the best drinker.

  "Lina," Altan asserted, his presence deviously close to her.

  Lina felt his hand skim her lower back, resting tenderly on the area. Possessive as always. She never signed up for a protective older brother.

  "I'm irritated by you, leave me alone," Lina curtly said to him.

  "I'll look into the men who hurt you," Altan gently reassured her. He stopped by her side and took the empty stool, separating her and the villainous Commander.

  Altan knew the Commander would lead the pure Lina astray. She was innocent as lilies and he'd be damned if someone tainted her petals before he did. Blocking her vision of the man, Altan offered her an endearing smile. In the distance, he saw a group of women stop gossiping and swoon.

  "Hey, look at him…"

  "Wow…"

  "Is it hot in here?"

  Lina grew irritated when their attention turned to him. Their compliments were making it difficult for Lina to hear the lovely voice of the singer on the stage.

  "You shouldn't be here then," Lina deadpanned. "You should be looking for them."

  "Lina—"

  "They assaulted me, called me a whore," Lina said like it was no big deal. She never liked to show her anger with violent voices. That was beneath her. She wasn't her Papa. She wasn't her Grandpa.

  Lina managed her fury with grace. She bared her fangs, but made no bite, for all she had to do was bark. She refused to drop her composure to fall into madness.

  "If a knight hadn't come for me, perhaps I would've been violated on the streets like an animal," Lina lightly commented, running her fingertips over the rim of the glass. "Wouldn't you love that?"

  Altan's face grew more turbulent than a storm at sea. His lips curled at the thought of her white dress stained red with blood. He shot to his feet, his eyes wide with rage.

  "I'll have them skinned and castrated," Altan swore to her. "Those bastards, how dare they touch what is mine—"

  "Yours?" Lina interrupted. "Altan, that's not very lawyer like of you."

  "Lina—"

  "Who knows?" Lina softly shrugged. "Perhaps as we speak, they're assaulting another poor woman in the alleyways."

  Altan's nostrils flared. He grabbed her hands abruptly, causing her to tense. Over his shoulders, she saw Kaden rise to his feet.

  This was not going as planned.

  "I swear to you, my lovely lily, you will be avenged," Altan murmured. He reached out to tenderly stroke her on the face, but she flinched back. His heart ached at her frightened reaction.

  "Lina," Altan uttered like a man on his knees before a prayer temple. "Tell me what I must do to make you happy."

  "I've already told you," Lina responded, pulling her hands away from his grasp. "Siblings shouldn't touch each other this intimately."

  "Siblings?" Altan deadpanned like he had been smacked in the face. "You—"

  "You're like an older brother to me, Altan. You're protective as such, but can only bark and not bite. I suppose I would have to ask my Papa to investigate the alleyway in your stead," Lina sighed in disappointment.

  Kaden was directly behind Altan now. The look on his face could turn anyone into stone. One glance at his eyes and someone would drop to their knees in fear.

  So, Lina decided to end this quickly.

  "Maybe I should go now, Altan—"

  "No," Altan quickly reassured her. "I'll find them. They will pay."

  Lina's lips curled in disappointment. She turned her face away from him, indicating the conversation was done.

  Out of desperation, Altan opened his mouth, but clamped it shut. He knew no amount of words would convince her. Only actions spoke louder than promises.

  "I will return, my dear lily," Altan promised.

  Altan turned, so focused on the task that he didn't even register the ominous presence behind him. Rushing out of the club, he quickly hailed down one of his men outside.

  "You care for him," Kaden realized, his voice filled with somber danger.

  Lina didn't respond. She smoothed out his coat on her lap, smiling to herself in amusement. Altan was so distracted by her words and actions that he didn't? realize what was on her legs. Kaden certainly noticed everything.

  Kaden grabbed the hand resting on his black coat. She froze, not expecting him to be as bold as Altan.

  "A little temptress, aren't you?" Kaden murmured, his grip tightening on her delicate fingers. She didn't respond and used her free hand to drink.

  "Do you think you could play me the same way you did with that fool?" Kaden asked, resting an elbow on the table. He leaned close to her, his mouth brushing against her ear. He heard her breath hitch and her heart skip.

  Lina was right where Kaden wanted her to be. He felt her fingertips tremble as she continued smoothing out the non-existent wrinkle on his coat.

  "I could play you like a flute and you would not know," Lina daringly said.

  "Are you that good with your hands, dove of mine?" Kaden hurmored her. "If so, I could give you another task to occupy your lovely fingers."

  Lina was confused by what he was implying. Out of curiosity, she turned her head, but wished she hadn't. Her confidence died in her chest. Her lips had landed right on the corner of his mouth. She stiffened in shock. His muscular body grew tense.

  Instantly, he let out a small growl. "Dove."

  "Would you teach me then?" Lina breathlessly asked him.

  "To use your hands?" Kaden gritted out through clenched teeth.

  "Yes."

  Kaden had many uses for hands as delicate and soft as hers. He wondered if she'd even be able to wrap her fingers around it fully. Would it fit through her lovely lips?

  "My sister Mila was finely taught by a masterful martial artist, but no one in the city would teach me. As a Commander, I was hoping—"

  "I'll teach you."

  Kaden cursed himself the second he said it outloud. She was talking about completely different things than his sinful thoughts. How could he forget? As charming as Lina was, she was unaware of her cunningness. Like every well-bred heiress, she didn't know the intimate positions between a man and woman. It was evident in the way Lina thought nothing of his seduction, or Atlan for the matter. Or, was it Altan now? The name was so similar.

  Kaden didn't like that. In fact, he despised it. Altan, that bastard. Altan must not fear death to have addressed Lina by such an ugly nickname.

  "Truly?" Lina asked, pressing against him.

  Kaden could feel every muscle in his body react to the small action. Was she doing it on purpose? He glanced down at her innocent face, filled with all the wonders in the world. No, she was not. Her breasts pressed dangerously to his hardened chest, her free hand grasping his upper arm out of eagerness.

  "Truly," Kaden rasped, feeling his groin aching by now.

  Kaden knew he had been celibate for too damn long when a single touch from her sent fire to his veins. He was this close to burying his lips on her neck, a hand yanking her hair back, and his other caressing what was his.

  "It will be our little secret," Lina breathed out. "From my Papa."

  A well-raised lady wanted to keep a secret from her Papa? Kaden was going to lose his mind and he had just met her again, for the second time since he saw her.

  "It will be our little secret then, dove of mine."